More: Worth Listening To

Meta

Jun

27

Blending the Compassionate Works and Words of the Gospel in Your Local Context

Shortly after the Campus Ministry responded to the South Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, Cru leadership decided to become more intentional about weaving the compassionate works and words of the gospel into the USCM. Since that time, many Cru staff and students have blended good news and good deeds (or evangelism and social justice) together in various ways in their local context.

But it’s not always easy.

Perhaps you can relate to these comments by Cru staff members:

“I think that justification and justice are joined at the hip and yet… in Christianity today, it seems like you are either passionate about evangelism or doing justice. I desire to be a part of both… I honestly get confused on how to build movements that incorporate both.”

“As a Cru student and now as a staff member, I have often felt stifled in my concern for justice, specifically caring for widows, orphans, immigrants, and the poor. There is a tension between my heart for justice and my heart for our mission and vision of winning, building, and sending college students.”

“I think our justice components should compliment our calling to students and faculty. Sometimes that’s difficult because we tend to work with the most privileged.”

Comments like these reflect the challenge of holding things crucial to Biblical Christianity in proper tension. It’s difficult to do in our own lives and certainly in our local ministry efforts. Thus, we often opt for something simpler, which is to gravitate toward one side or the other of the following “tension-producing ” categories.

How do we keep these things (that seem to conflict or compete with one another) in proper tension?

In many areas of life, holding things in proper tension is inherent in the way God made the world and crucial for following Christ. To understand Scripture and live the Christian life, we must wrestle, for example, with God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, God’s love and evil and suffering in the world, our own growth and the needs of others, etc. It’s a challenge to hold things in tension, but there’s 40,000 pounds of tension in a properly tuned piano – and it’s the tension that allows a well-trained pianist to produce beautiful music. So it is in life and ministry. When we learn to hold in proper tension…justice and justification, reaching leaders and the poor, organizational call and personal passion, and a host of other things, we can produce beautiful music in the Kingdom of Christ.

In the following, you’ll find some practical ways to face the apparent tension between these categories. Cru movements can weave evangelism and social justice together – and create a compelling blend of passionate proclamation and compassionate demonstration of the gospel – if we will:

• Sharpen Our Theology of Blending the Works and Words of the Gospel

• Cultivate a Biblical Vision for Blending the Works and Words of the Gospel

• Fan the Flame of Passion for the Works and the Words of the Gospel

• Develop Strategies and Methods for Blending the Works and Words of the Gospel

• Train and Equip for Blending the Works and Words of the Gospel

SHARPEN OUR THEOLOGY OF BLENDING THE WORKS AND WORDS OF THE GOSPEL

When it comes to blending passionate proclamation and compassionate demonstration of the gospel, there are a series of battles to face. For starters, Satan will oppose us because he hates bold and clear proclamation of gospel truth. He also hates sacrificial service and justice initiatives that free those under his cruel schemes of oppression. We’ll also face “compassion fatigue” whenever we wade into the complexities of helping those in deep brokenness, especially the widow, the orphan, the alien, and the poor.

Our theology provides a foundation to fight these practical battles. Whatever the challenges of blending the works and words of the gospel, the Spirit of God uses a clear Biblical understanding of the issues and deep convictions shaped by God’s Word to keep us moving forward. The Scriptures face the apparent tensions head-on and help us creatively resolve those tensions. The Scriptures literally equip us for every good work (II Tim. 3:17). In Appendix 1, we’ve listed key passages of Scripture, articles, messages, books, and Bible studies for you to choose from as you develop your own understanding, convictions, and ministry philosophy.

You will find that the Scriptures teach us to talk about the greatness of our God; to verbally proclaim the excellencies of His character (I Peter 2:9-10); to announce His saving power for all peoples (Psalm 67); and to rejoice in our firm hope that He will redeem the human race and restore everything that was lost in the Fall (Romans 8:18-25). The Scriptures also teach us that God is filled with compassion, is Himself “the father of the fatherless,” and holds his people to a unique accountability to care for the widow, orphan, alien, and poor (Isaiah 58; Matt. 25:31ff). When Jesus breaks into human history with incomprehensible grace and mercy, He redeems a people for Himself, and so captivates their hearts that they have to speak of His great love (Col. 1:28-29) – and they’re so overwhelmed with His mercy that they want to extend mercy to those most in need (Titus 2:11-14).

CULTIVATE A BIBLICAL VISION FOR BLENDING THE WORKS AND WORDS OF THE GOSPEL

Growing numbers of Cru MTLs are finding ways to cast vision for blending the works and words of the gospel, helping staff, students, and faculty see how evangelism and social justice fit together. For example, Ryan Berg (Cincinnati Metro MTL) invites faculty and students to join in God’s story through “The E3 Challenge.” E3 reflects Cru’s rich history, vision, and mission while showing where the Biblical mandates to care for the widow, orphan, poor, and oppressed fit into making disciples among students and faculty. Built around three E’s, Ryan and his team invite faculty, students, and volunteers to:

Embrace the Gospel Personally: An honest recognition of personal sin and a genuine celebration of Christ’s grace to us in the midst of it. We never move beyond the Gospel, only into a more profound understanding.

Experience the Gospel Together: Seeking to engage in authentic community without masks by moving forward together.

Extend the Gospel to Others:

Displaying it by being who God has called us to be—people of Christ-like character.

Demonstrating it by doing what God has called us to do—entering into the needs of others: physically, emotionally, relationally, etc.

Declaring it by saying what God has called us to say—sharing the good news of Christ’s cross and empty tomb and the wonderful implications of both.

For more, read Joining In God’s Story (crupressgreen.com/joining-in-gods-story)

A Biblical vision for blending proclamation and demonstration of the gospel has led to many Cru movements into natural ways of partnering with their university to relieve suffering in the world, launch new movements, and increase impact. For example:

• The Cru movement at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo created a service project for the entire university.

• Appalachian State Cru created a way for the entire campus to respond to the Japan tsunami.

• The Denver Metro team has found a way to tap into some of the potential of a Jesuit university to help relieve suffering in Calcutta, India. (All three stories are below.)

Regardless of how we conceptualize our local movement, summer project, or whatever we’re leading—or what kind of language we use—weaving the works and words of the gospel starts with integrated thinking and vision, and our ability to communicate that vision.

Think in terms of blending good news and good deeds, weaving passionate proclamation and compassionate demonstration of the gospel, combining evangelism and social justice.

Develop a vision for your movements where win, build, send efforts change lives in your context and connect with the brokenness on campus and in the broader world.

Then make plans and cast vision for students and faculty to let the gospel do its work of changing their hearts and setting things right in a broken world.

You’ll find resources for clarifying your vision in Appendix 2.

FAN THE FLAME OF PASSION FOR THE WORKS AND WORDS OF THE GOSPEL

A big vision to see everyone and everything brought under the loving reign of Jesus—and blending our God-given passions with Cru’s mission—are crucial to keep personal passion aflame for a lifetime. We’ve found that stories fuel passion. We’re including just a few of the many examples of Cru teams successfully blending personal passion for the widow, orphan, poor, and oppressed with their heart for reaching and discipling college students and professors.

The San Francisco Metro team partnered with the Christian Alliance for Orphans to create an Orphan Scholarship Fund (OSF), in order to raise funds to send three Honduran orphans to college. One objective of the OSF was to develop relationships with those student populations the movement did not currently have a connection with. As word got out on campus about the OSF, the student leader of an organization committed to an alternative lifestyle approached our staff with a desire to help raise the necessary funds. Through the care exhibited by Cru for the marginalized as well as for others in the San Francisco community, members of this student’s organization felt safe to express their desire to follow God. One member directly told a Cru staff member “I’m desperately seeking God,” while the student leader himself later confessed his interest in the OSF “was driven by a desire to see what faith in Jesus could look like for him.” Also, the combined efforts of several diverse partners in San Francisco raised more than enough money for the three Honduran orphans to go to college. The Cru movement also saw a Honduran-born student nominally involved in Cru gain such a heart for reaching other Latinos that she launched a Destino movement in San Francisco.

ColoradoState University hosted its second “Justice Week” during the spring of 2012. Students did a variety of things to raise awareness of slavery, trafficking, and other forms of oppression around the world. Because issues like human trafficking tend to push superficial matters from the minds of students and make room for serious conversations about the realities of life, CSU students were very open to spiritual conversations. Danny, a Muslim student from Dubai, entered into a great spiritual conversation with a Cru staff member about his concern to end oppression in the world. A unique connection occurred when Danny realized that he and Christians involved with Cru actually shared a common concern for the oppressed. During the week, Cru students used Soularium™ cards with a set of “justice questions” to share Christ with hundreds of CSU students. The event also helped solidify CSU Cru’s partnership with International Justice Mission on campus by giving Cru an opportunity to link hand-in-hand with IJM student leaders, and not minimize their efforts or spiritual calling. (CSU Justice Week video: http://crupressgreen.com/videos/csu-justice-week/.)

The Cru team at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo partnered with Feed My Starving Children to createa service opportunity for the entire campus. Theprimary purpose was to share the experience ofsacrificial living with Greek students and give thema philanthropy opportunity. The vision was to packthousands of meals for hungry children and cultivatea greater connection to the Greek system. Over thetwo-day event, 1558 volunteers packed 200,232 mealsthat will help feed 550 children for a year. In addition,the event opened doors of cooperation between Cruand Cal Poly Greek Life. Greek Life leaders actuallyasked Cru staff to lead Bible studies in the fraternitiesand sororities and to plan more events togetherfor the future. MTL Jamey Pappas met with theStudent Community Services director afterwards,who indicated he would like to partner in the futureas well. According to Jamie, the event also “reallychanged the perception of Cru at Cal Poly which,for some, was negative and uninformed.” (Video at http://crupressgreen.com/videos/slo-meal-packing/.)

The Cincinnati Metro ministry partners with India Cru to launch new movements on university campuses in Mumbai. Cinci Metro also partners with The Aruna Project, a small ministry caring for women and children who have been freed from prostitution and trafficking. Every year, Cinci Metro hosts an “Aruna 5K” race to raise money for the Aruna project. Emails from Ryan Berg, MTL in Cincinnati, demonstrate that Ryan and his wife have found a way to simultaneously live out their passion for trafficking victims and accelerate the ministry in Cincinnati.

After the first Aruna 5K in April 2009: “We were able to engage certain groups on campus that we would never have been able to before. We had a number of atheist and agnostic students join in the event that would never come to a Cru meeting. In total we had about 200-225 people involved (as a 2 1/2-year old movement, we only have about 70 students involved, so the turnout was awesome.) The greater joy: we were able to raise close to $9,000 which will go directly to the Aruna Project in Mumbai to help rescue women and children out of the sexual slave trade. Awesome stuff.”

After the April 2011 Aruna 5K: “Our Aruna 5K had close to 1200 people involved (online financial sponsors, participants, and volunteers). We saw about $27,000 raised. Some fun conversations as well. Good news, good deeds… Good stuff.” (Aruna minidocumentary: http://crupressgreen.com/action/.)

DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND METHODS FOR BLENDING THE WORKS AND WORDS OF THE GOSPEL

The Scriptures teach that God has uniquely and intentionally designed the DNA structure of every one of us (Psalm 139), has intentionally orchestrated our every circumstance to shape us according to His will (Rom. 8:28-30), has specifically gifted us according to His wisdom (Eph. 4:1-8), and has created a set of good works for us to walk in (Eph. 2:10). This all points to the thrilling prospect of sinful humans like us, having been redeemed by the blood of Christ, now able to participate with God in redeeming humanity and restoring all that is broken in the world. If we apply these great truths to our Cru movements— as well as to our own lives—it precipitates some great questions, like:

• How has God intentionally designed and gifted our staff team and movement?

• What good works has God prepared for us – locally and globally – to walk in?

• What does God want us to help set right in Jesus’ Name?

• Where can we uniquely help bring Kingdom change to broken places and systems?

• And where are the connections to “win, build, send” ministry among students and faculty?

To answer these questions well, we need good theology, clear vision, enflamed passions, and we need strategies, training and materials. We’ve begun putting together a list of major Campus Ministry partners for evangelism and social justice; stories of Cru movements successfully blending evangelism and social justice; and also some methods, resources, tools to help you blend gospel proclamation and demonstration. Visit http://crupressgreen.com/action/ to see these growing resources.

But this is only the beginning. God is continually writing the story of how He is using His people to expand the loving reign and rule of Jesus over people, families, communities, and even over broken places and systems in the world. Through His life, atoning death, and resurrection, Jesus began the redemption of humanity and the restoration of all creation. Through His people, Jesus is continuing to redeem and restore. And when He returns, Jesus will completely redeem ALL of His people and set ALL things right.

LASTLY, TRAIN AND EQUIP FOR BLENDING THE WORKS AND WORDS OF THE GOSPEL

Even though high school football was a long time ago for me, I still have a vivid memory. I intercepted a pass and ran through the entire opposing team, all the way to the two-yard line. I got so excited about scoring that I fumbled the football into mid-air and missed my chance to score a touchdown. How embarrassing!

If we develop a good theology of movements that blend the works and words of the gospel, cast vision, fan into flame a passion for building such movements, and even identify the strategies, tools, and materials we need – but don’t train and equip others to use them – it’s like fumbling on the two-yard line. We miss great opportunities. We need tools, and we need to teach people to use them well. You’ll find the following tools – and more – at crupressgreen.com/action. (If you have resources to share, please send them to Neil.Downey@cru.org.)

“The Christian and Good Deeds” (Student Bible study)

“Misunderstood” (Sharing the gospel to explain good deeds)

“The Gospel – Key to Change” (Tim Keller article )

“The Cosmic Code” (Gospel conversation guide)

“Perspective” (a very relational way to engage people in gospel conversations)

ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Jesus alone satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart. He alone can rescue and save. There is salvation—in its fullest sense of the word—for individuals and for the entire human race, only in Jesus’ Name. By God’s great grace, let us build movements of professors and students who disciple leaders and influencers, gather orphans into loving arms, happily sacrifice time to tutor at-risk children, work tirelessly to help rescue minors trapped in the sex trade, and give their lives to loose the chains of injustice and bind up the broken-hearted in Jesus’ Name—all the while employing words to point to His supremacy and sufficiency, proclaim His excellencies, and explain the saving power of His character, atoning death, and resurrection life. Always, our hope is for the glory of God. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16)

APPENDIX 1: PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING, CONVICTIONS, AND PHILOSOPHY

Key Passages about Declaring and Demonstrating Gospel Truth

There’s a host of Old Testament passages that teach us to proclaim the excellencies of our great God and Savior, and to show compassion for—or seek justice on behalf of—the widow, orphan, alien, and poor. For instance, Old Testament writers, especially the Psalmists, repeatedly exhort us to “tell of the wondrous works of God” (e.g. Ps. 145) so that his ways “may be known on earth, [his] saving power among all nations” (Ps. 67:2). At the same time, Moses, the Prophets, and the Poets also repeatedly exhort us to show compassion for the poor and oppressed—to “loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free…to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house…” (Isaiah 58:6)—because God Himself “executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing” (Dt. 10:18).

When we come to the New Testament and observe the life of Jesus, it’s obvious that He was continually proclaiming the Kingdom, teaching people the liberating truth and wisdom of God, and bringing help and healing to the hungry, paralyzed, leprous, lame, deaf, mute, blind, demon-possessed, and brokenhearted; and new life to those in the grip of death (Eg. Mt. 4:23 and 9:35). And, of course, the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ take up a major section of all four gospels—for it is the perfectly righteous life of Jesus, his death, resurrection, and ascension that form the foundation for the redemption of the human race and for the restoration of all creation. (Key passages re: the work of Christ to redeem humanity and restore all of creation: Acts 3:1-26; Romans 8:18-25; Eph. 1:3-10; Col. 1:15-20; Rev. 21:1-27.)

Following their Master, believers in the book of Acts prayed for boldness to speak the word of God,even in the face of opposition, and for power toheal—and God answered their prayers in a big way!Jesus had inaugurated a new Kingdom, and the signs(or “previews”) of that Kingdom began to show upin the midst of—and all around—the newly foundedChurch of Jesus Christ. Joyful worship, hunger forGod’s Word, faith-filled prayer, meaningful fellowship,sacrificial sharing of material goods, explosive growth(Acts 2:42-47; 3:23-37); bold proclamation (Acts2:14-41; 4:29-31); the lame “walking and leaping”(e.g. Acts 3:1-26; cf. Isa. 35:6); care for the vulnerable(Acts 6:1-7); the “nations” gathered in through gospelproclamation (Acts 8:26-40; 10 & 11); and sacrificial givingin the face of famine (Acts 11:27-30) all revealed newlife in Christ, a new community of faith, and a newKingdom where the King uses His people to begin Hislong-intended redemption of the human race and therestoration of a broken world.

The Apostle Paul is known for his zeal to preach the gospel (Acts 20:25; Rom. 15:20-21), and by his own testimony, was “eager” to care for the poor (Gal. 2:10). Paul also continually reminds his young protégés Timothy and Titus to teach sound doctrine (the gospel) and to cultivate zeal for good works in the people of God. For example, Paul wrote to Titus:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounceungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled,upright, and godly lives in the presentage, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing ofthe glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,who gave himself for us to redeem us from alllawlessness and to purify for himself a people forhis own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 (cf. 3:4-8)

Likewise, the Apostle Peter taught believers scattered all over the known world that the Christian gospel is:

Personal – The gospel saves individuals, causing them to be “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” and guaranteeing them an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1:3-5). But it is also…

Communal, Cultural, and Transformational – The gospel creates a new community with a new culture that is different from the prevailing culture and has a transforming effect on it through good deeds (2:1-12). This culture is characterized by personal purity; by sincere, earnest, and pure love toward believers; and by good deeds for the lost, even those who persecute us (1:13-25; 2:12; 2:15; 3:9, 13-17; 4:19). (N.b. Drawn from Tim Keller’s “Gospel Centered Ministry,” listed in following section of resources.)

In summary, the Scriptures teach us to proclaim the greatness of God, the excellencies of His character, His saving power for all peoples, and to rejoice in our firm hope that He will redeem the human race and restore everything in all creation that was lost in the Fall. The Scriptures also teach us that God is filled with compassion, is Himself “the father of the fatherless,” and holds His people to a unique accountability to care for the widow, orphan, alien, and poor. When Jesus breaks into human history, with incomprehensible grace and mercy, he redeems a people and so captivates their hearts that they have to speak of His great love, and they’re so overwhelmed with His mercy that they want to extend mercy to those most in need.

Resources for sharpening your theology of evangelism and social justice (all at crupressgreen/action unless otherwise listed):

Brief Articles:

“The Gospel – Key to Change” Tim Keller

“Why the Rising Social Awareness in the Church Should Encourage Us,” Justin Holcomb

“A Mighty River or a Slippery Slope?” Mark Labberton. Examining the cultural and theological forces behind the new interest in justice.

Longer Articles:

“Lausanne: Evangelism and Social Responsibility: An Evangelical Commitment”

“Converted to the Kingdom: Social Action Among College Students Today “ by Evan Hunter

“Gospel Centered Ministry” by Tim Keller

Video or Audio Messages:

“The Both/And of the Gospel” (Tim Keller)

Bill Hybels’ interview with Bono (Willow Creek Leadership Summit)

Series on Mercy and Justice (Redeemer Presbyterian Church):

The Gospel and the Poor: A Case for Compassion (Tim Keller)

Poverty, Charity & Justice in the Early Church (John Dickson)

Gospel Centered Ministry (Tim Keller)

Books:

Generous Justice by Tim Keller

The Externally Focused Church by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson

Unfashionable by Tullian Tchividijian

Good News About Injustice by Gary Haugen

Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards

Bible Studies:

The Christian and Good Deeds (Bible study developed by Cru staff member Andy Swanson)